Two endemic viverrids of the Western Ghats, India
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Two endemic viverrids of the Western
Ghats, India
N. V. K. Ashraf, A. Kumar and A. J. T. Johnsingh
The Malabar and brown palm civets, Viverra civettina and Paradoxurus
jerdoni, are both endemic to the Western Ghats of south-west India. Little is
known about them and in 1990 a survey was conducted in three parts of the
Western Ghats to assess their status. This revealed that isolated populations of
Malabar civet still survive in less disturbed areas of South Malabar but they are
seriously threatened by habitat destruction and hunting because they are outside
protected areas. The brown palm civet is not immediately threatened because there
are about 25 protected areas within its distribution range. Recommendations have
been made for conservation action to ensure the survival of these animals.
Introduction Mountains, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. In the last
40 years, there have been only two possible
Two of the seven species of civets in India, the sightings, one in Kudremukh in Karnataka
Malabar civet Viverra civettina and the brown (Karanth, 1986) and the other in Tiruvella in
palm civet Paradoxurus jerdoni, are endemic, Kerala (Kurup, 1989). Listed as 'possibly ex-
being confined to the Western Ghats of south- tinct' in the IUCN Mammal Red Data Book of
west India (Figure 1). These are the only two 1978 (Thornback, 1978), the species was redis-
Indian viverrids described as priority species covered in Elayur, a locality in the lowland
for conservation by the Mustelid and Viverrid Western Ghats, in Malappuram district,
Specialist Group (M&VSG) of the IUCN/SSC Kerala (Kurup, 1989).
(Schreiber et al., 1989). Despite their rarity, The current distribution of the Malabar
they have received little scientific or conser- civet is not clearly understood. Most pub-
vation attention. A 3-month preliminary sur- lished reports suggest that it is largely a
vey of these two species was conducted from species of lowland tracts of the Western Ghats
April to June 1990. This was organized by the Qerdon, 1874; Pocock, 1939; Prater, 1948). It
Wildlife Institute of India, under the initiative has also been reported from the elevated tracts
of M&VSG with funding from the Zoological of Wynad, Coorg (Jerdon, 1874) and High
Society for the Conservation of Species and Wavy Mountains of Western Ghats (Hutton,
Populations, Germany. 1949).
Malabar civet Brown palm civet
The Malabar civet is one of four viverrids list- The brown palm civet was sighted by A.
ed as endangered in the 1990 IUCN Red List of Kumar in 1983 and 1990, and by Chandrasekar
Threatened Animals (Thornback et al., 1990). (1989) in Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary
The species was not recorded during surveys (previously Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary) of
conducted by the Zoological Society of Tamil Nadu, and also by E. R. C. Davidar (in
London and by the British Museum (Natural Schreiber et al., 1989) in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
History) in the early part of this century Because these sightings and most of the mu-
(Kurup, 1989). Hutton (1949), however, re- seum specimens were from the elevated moist
ported this species from the High Wavy forests of the Western Ghats, it probably
109
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76'
3. to assess the feasibility of long-term ecologi-
cal studies on these species.
Survey areas and methods
The selection of survey areas was based on re-
cent reports of sightings and captures of
Malabar and brown palm civets. The precise
collection locality is known for only two out of
about 11 museum specimens of Malabar civet.
Both were obtained in 1987 from Elayur,
Kerala (South Malabar). Elayur and adjoining
areas of Calicut and Palghat districts of Kerala
were, therefore, selected for the survey (Figure
1).
The only two recent sightings of Malabar
civet are from Kudremukh in Karnataka
• Major cities Lowland Western Ghats (Karanth, 1986) and Tiruvella in Kerala
• Areas surveyed Elevated Western Ghats
(Kurup, 1989). The former (600 sq km) was se-
A Areas recommended for Malabar Civet Survey
WS Wildlife sanctuary
lected because it is the only protected area
from which this animal has been reported.
Figure 1. Areas surveyed and areas recommended Moreover, it falls within the distribution range
for further survey in parts of south-west India. of the northern subspecies of the brown palm
civet P. j . caniscus. Another area selected for
occurs in other protected areas as well. Two brown palm civet was Indira Gandhi Wildlife
subspecies of brown palm civet are recog- Sanctuary (987 sq km).
nized, the southern P. ;. jerdoni and the north- Methods included interviews with Forest
ern P. ]. caniscus. Department staff, tribal people, native
Unlike the Malabar civet, most museum hunters, Ayurvedic physicians, civet rearers
specimens of brown palm civet were collected and trappers. Brochures with pictures of
from moist forests above 500 m altitude. While Malabar civet, small Indian civet Viverricula
the rarer P. j . caniscus is known from North indica, and common palm civet Paradoxurus
and South Coorg hills, the better known P. ;'. hermaphroditus were distributed in the
jerdoni is reported from the southern parts of Malabar civet survey areas. Other methods in-
Western Ghats, namely Nilgiris, Anaimalais, cluded night transects and watch-tower obser-
Palni and also Travancore (Pocock, 1939). vations using a spotlight. There are few
Recent records of this species from Coonoor motorable roads, which restricted the use of
(in Nilgiris) and Indira Gandhi Wildlife vehicle for transects. Attempts were made to
Sanctuary (in Anaimalais) further suggest that sample all vegetation types, but where there
it inhabits the elevated mountain Ghats. The had been recent sightings these were more in-
species has not been reported in recent years tensively surveyed. Information was also
from the lowland tracts of Malabar and gathered on habitat preferences of the species.
Travancore. For watch-tower observations, small wooden
The aims of the preliminary survey were: platforms were erected as vantage points for
1. to assess the status and conservation needs overnight observations, near fruiting trees,
of Malabar and brown palm civets in selected natural water points, deep gorges or tunnels.
areas in their distribution range; This method was used most in Indira Gandhi
2. to gather information on their ecology and Wildlife Sanctuary for sighting the brown
habitat preferences and; palm civet.
110 ORYX VOL 27 NO 2 APRIL 1993
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300
Plantation types
V Cashew/Rubber
T Areca (Betel-Nut)
A# X %. t Coconut
t/ \ \
k
11 Paddy --
150
Figure 2. A general profile of
plantation types in South I J \.
,nui
Malabar where isolated Hill top a Upper slope Lower slope Valley
populations of Malabar civet 500 1000 1500
Distance (m)
Results and discussion people interviewed were not even aware of
the existence of the species. The local name for
The survey for the Malabar civet covered the species, jawad, is popular among the re-
about 105 km, mostly on foot, in 84 hours in maining 10 per cent, who are mainly hunters,
different plantation types in Elayur and the trappers, Ayurvedic physicians and civet rear-
nearby village of Poongode. The exact dis- ers. None of the six hunters interviewed in
tance covered in each vegetation type was dif- Kudremukh National Park recognized the
ficult to estimate because of the complicated Malabar civet.
mosaic of plantation types. However, most Out of 22 areas surveyed, seven had had
time was spent in cashew plantations and one or more captive Malabar civets sometime
along the edges of slopes and riparian borders during the past 30 years for collecting 'civet-
of valleys. At Kudremukh National Park, little musk'. While musk is collected from the small
field-work could be carried out because of tor- Indian civet without restraining the animal,
rential rain. musk is obtained from the Malabar civet by
For the brown palm civet, about 170 km was special manipulation. The civet-musk of the
covered in tropical evergreen forest, moist de- Malabar civet is said to have been in
ciduous forest and plantations in 34 night- widespread use 20-25 years ago.
hours of vehicle transect in Indira Gandhi
Wildlife Sanctuary. Foot transects covered a Ecology. Natural forests have completely dis-
distance of 35 km in evergreen forests in about appeared in the entire stretch of the coastal
11 hours. Watch-tower observations lasted 64 Western Ghats due to early colonization by
hours during 9 nights. Almost all the obser- man. The present vegetation is, therefore, of
vation points were near fruiting trees. secondary origin (Champion and Seth, 1968),
and consists mostly of plantations. These plan-
tations follow a pattern according to the ter-
Malabar civet rain and presence of riparian areas. Cashew,
Although no Malabar civets were seen, evi- rubber and sometimes coconut plantations are
dence of their existence was found in parts of found on the drier hill tops and upper slopes,
South Malabar: skins of two animals captured while the lower moist slopes are planted with
in 1987 and 1990 were found in Poongode and betel-nut palms. The valleys are dominated by
a defecation site (civetry) was discovered in paddy fields and sometimes coconut (Figure
Elayur. 2). Of these, the cashew plantations are the
Scarcely anybody in the survey areas recog- least disturbed. They are not weeded and so
nized the Malabar civet as a critically en- have a dense understorey of shrubs and
dangered species. About 90 per cent of over grasses. For a terrestrial species such as the
ORYX VOL 27 NO 2 APRIL 1993 111
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Table 1. Localities in Malappuram district of Kerala where Malabar civets could be captured for a captive-
breeding programme
No. Place Post office Nearest town Reason for selection
1 Poongode Vellayur Wandoor Two animals captured March 1990
2 Chembrakkattur Kadungallur Areacode Individuals have been trapped often,
most recent in 1989
3 Chattangotupuram Chattangotupuram Wandoor Trapped in 1988, recent sightings
4 Elayur Iruvetty Areacode Three animals captured, 1987
Captured in 1976 and 1984 and recent
sightings in Uragam, Arimbara hills
Arimbara Arimbara Kondotty Captured in 1976 and 1984 and recent
sightings in Uragam, Arimbara hills
7 Calicut University campus N. G. George pers. comm.
Malabar civet, these thickets provide import- species under the Indian Wildlife Protection
ant cover. It is probable that the cashew plan- Act 1972, is not selectively hunted but is cap-
tations are a 'refuge' rather than a preferred tured and killed when encountered. Out of 22
habitat. Most captures of this species in the Malabar civets reported captured on 18 occa-
last 30 years, however, have been in the val- sions in the last 40 years, 10 were caught by
leys, around riparian areas. This suggests their dogs. Dogs are reported to become excited by
possible dependence on shallow water courses the Malabar civet's scent and easily provoked
where they forage at night (Figure 2). by the civet's fierce response to interference.
The Malabar civet has never been observed
in trees and possibly forages almost entirely
Brown palm civet
on the ground. Like the African civet and
other large civets (Wemmer, 1984), they are No evidence of brown palm civet could be
also known to have specific defecation sites. found during the survey at Anaimalais.
Considered aggressive among conspecifics, Reports that it is hunted outside Kudremukh
they have been observed usually alone. National Park suggest that it is present in this
Evidence suggests that the young are raised in protected area. Local people had little knowl-
secluded thickets. edge about the brown palm civet, perhaps be-
cause it is nocturnal and probably largely
Threats. Increasing human disturbance, habitat arboreal, and might have gone unnoticed by
destruction and fragmentation, poaching and the local villagers who rarely venture into the
trapping are the major threats facing this forests at night.
species. Cashew plantations, which probably
hold most of the surviving populations of Ecology. Little is known about the ecology of
Malabar civet, are now threatened by large- brown palm civet. The three recent sightings
scale clearance for planting rubber. Moreover, of this species in Anaimalais were in ever-
the closed canopy of a mature rubber plan- green forests. Coonoor, where Davidar
tation prevents the growth of shrubs and trapped a specimen in 1976 (Schreiber et ah,
grasses, which are essential cover for this 1989) also had some patches of evergreen for-
species. The Malabar civet, a Schedule I est in the past. The adjoining Mudumalai
112 ORYX VOL 27 NO 2 APRIL 1993
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Wildlife Sanctuary has no evergreen forests Western Ghats where there are about 25 pro-
and is unlikely to contain the species. Further tected areas in its distribution range. This
surveys and studies are essential to determine species is not immediately threatened, but
whether or not this species is dependent on various development activities might threaten
evergreen forests. its survival in future.
The brown palm civet is most likely to occur
in low densities, especially compared with the
common palm civet. Both these arboreal Recommendations
species have been reported from evergreen
forests in the same localities (for example The following recommendations are made for
Kudremukh). But unlike the brown palm conservation action to ensure the survival of
civet, the common palm civet is frequently these viverrids.
sighted even beyond the limits of coffee and
tea plantations. Adaptability to habitat distur-
Captive breeding
bance is probably the major difference be-
tween these two species. Hutton (1949), Reports of frequent captures of Malabar civet
suggested that they mated around May, bas- in recent years in many localities show that
ing this on the fact that they were heard to call these isolated populations are under tremen-
at this time. dous pressure. The designation of protected
areas is not feasible in these densely popu-
Threats. This species may be more elusive than lated areas and we cannot assume that the
the Malabar civet because of its arboreal habits species would be represented in any protected
and its occurrence in moist forests. Many of area of the Western Ghat mountains, where it
the protected areas in the Western Ghats are has not been definitely recorded. It is, there-
threatened by development programmes. fore, strongly recommended that a few indi-
Mining activities in Kudremukh, hydroelectric viduals be captured for a captive-breeding
projects in Anaimalais and large-scale plan- programme. This could be done in areas
tations of coffee, cardamom and tea in and where the species is under severe hunting
around these protected areas have vastly de- pressure and where it is impossible to imple-
pleted the forest cover. Hunting is unlikely to ment long-term conservation measures (Table
be a major threat to the survival of brown 1). Reintroduction could be possible if suitable
palm civet. However, illegal hunting is still undisturbed areas were identified.
common in privately owned coffee, car-
damom and tea estates.
Field surveys
Intensive surveys in some key areas of both
Conclusions the elevated and coastal provinces of Western
Ghats are recommended.
Isolated populations of Malabar civet still sur- The suggested Kurathimalai and Ponmudi
vive in less disturbed thickets on small hills Sanctuaries in Kerala, and Honavar riverine
and gentle slopes in South Malabar, Kerala. fragments and Pilarkan forest in Karnataka
However, even these surviving populations have some undisturbed lowland forests
are seriously threatened. It has vanished re- (Rodgers and Panwar, 1988). The Palghat Gap
cently from most of its past range due to habi- in Kerala and the existing Someswara and
tat destruction and hunting. The lowland Mookambika wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka
Western Ghats have no protected areas or any also have some lowland forests. Intensive sur-
extensive areas of undisturbed natural veg- veys for the Malabar civet in these seven areas
etation that could be protected for the conser- (Figure 1) are also recommended.
vation of this species. The brown palm civet Surveys in one or two protected areas in
has been reported from elevated tracts of each of the six conservation units of the high-
ORYX VOL 27 NO 2 APRIL 1993 113
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altitude tracts of Western Ghats (Coorg, References
Wynad, Nilgiris, Anaimalais, Periyar and Champion, H.G. and Seth S.K. 1968. Forest types of
Agasthyamalai) are essential to investigate India. Manager of Publications, Delhi.
whether the Malabar civet survives in any Chandrasekar, A. 1989. Ecology of Small Mammals in
protected areas. Surveys using live-traps and Tropical Forests of South India. M.Sc. Thesis.
camera-traps would help to describe the geo- Department of Wildlife and Range Sciences.
graphical variation of brown palm civet and to University of Florida, USA.
assess the relative abundance of common and Hutton, A.F. 1949. Notes on Mammals of High
Wavy Mountains, Madurai, South India. Part-II. /.
brown palm civets and the rare Nilgiri marten
Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 48,681-694.
Martes gwatkinsi. Jerdon, T.C. 1874. A Handbook of the Mammals of
India. Reprinted in 1984 by Mittal Publications,
Delhi.
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Assessments of human disturbance, of the ef- Malabar civet (Viverra megaspila Blyth) from
Karnataka. /. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 83,192-193.
fect of pesticides and infectious diseases on
Kurup G.U. 1989. The rediscovery of the Malabar
isolated populations of Malabar civet in civet, (Viverra megaspila civettina Blyth) in India.
Kerala are required in order to draw up long- Tiger Paper, 16,13-14.
term conservation measures. Elaborate ecologi- Pocock R.I. 1939. The Fauna of British India: Mammals
cal studies are possible only if individuals are Vol.1. Reprinted in 1975. Today and Tomorrow's
radio-collared. As far as the brown palm civet Printers and Publishers, New Delhi.
is concerned, factors limiting its population Prater S.H. 1948. The Book of Indian Animals.
size and reasons for its rarity would be of in- Reprinted in 1980. Bombay Natural History
Society, India.
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Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Wildlife Protected Area Network in India. Wildlife
Nadu are suggested here as key areas for Institute of India.
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spectively. However, better study areas may H. 1989. An Action Plan for the Conservation of
be identified from the long-term survey Mustelids and Viverrids. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
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Acknowledgmen ts
Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK.
This survey was the outcome of interest shown by Wemmer, C. 1984. Civets and Genets. In The
Roland Wirth, chairman of the M&VSG, and fund- Encyclopedia of Mammals: 1 (ed. David Macdonald),
ing by the Zoological Society for the Conservation of pp. 136-145, George Allen and Unwin, London.
Species and Populations, Germany. We are thankful
to the Chief Wildlife Wardens of Kerala, Tamil N. V. K. Ashraf, A. Kumar, and A. J. T. Johnsingh,
Nadu and Karnataka for permission to conduct the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, India 248 006.
survey. We are grateful to the director, Wildlife
Institute of India, for facilitating the study. Dr G. U.
Kurup of Zoological Survey of India, Calicut and Mr
N. G. George of Calicut University provided valu-
able information on the elusive Malabar civet.
114 ORYX VOL 27 NO 2 APRIL 1993
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